Villa workers in Sudbury push for new contract

Mine Mill members will protest this week to push for new contracts for workers at St. Joseph’s Villa in Sudbury and St. Gabriel’s Villa in Chelmsford.

In a release, Mine Mill Local 598/Unifor said workers at the nursing homes have been without a contract for two years.

“The issues that are preventing them from getting a contract are many,” the union said. “Just to name a few, these include working short, no night shift premium, no wage increase, discipline without union representation, agency workers are making more money, no management support, staff feeling obligated to work through breaks, last-minute changes to scheduling.”

Mine Mill said the personal support workers at the villas are getting burned out and residents are suffering.

“Residents are not getting the quality care that they need because of skeleton staffing and work overload,” the union said. “Something needs to be done about this and the union is looking for support from the community to help us get back to the table to negotiate a contract that addresses these short falls.”

The protest will be held noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday on Paris Street and on Friday, 11 a.m. to noon in front of St. Joseph’s Villa.